Robbie Williams, a right-arm seamer who gets good pace and bounce, joined Leicestershire from Middlesex on a one-year deal after spending the closing weeks of the 2012 season on trial at Grace Road.

Some impressive performances for Durham MCCU brought Williams to Middlesex's attention and he looked to have a bright future with the county after taking 5 for 115 on his first-class debut against Essex at Chelmsford, when he opened the bowling alongside Steven Finn. However, it proved to be his only first-class appearance for Middlesex.

He missed the whole of the 2008 season because of a stress fracture and, though he joined the county full time in 2010 after finishing his degree, a combination of further injuries and fierce competition for places denied him any further opportunity to play first-class cricket and limited him to a handful of appearances in the senior one-day sides.